Albert Hall

A pliable, somewhat paunchy character player of TV and films whose parts increased in size with the advent of middle age, Albert Hall made a strong impression as Baines, the brother who introduces Mal...
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German composer James Last has bowed out of touring after contracting a "life-threatening" illness in September (14). The 85-year-old musician, who has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide, insists he greatly regrets the decision although he is glad he can say goodbye to his fans with a series of farewell shows.
The tour starts in Germany next month (Mar15) and will conclude at London's iconic music venue the Royal Albert Hall in April (15).
In a statement, the veteran star says, "The (final) concert itself won't be centred around my farewell. The only important thing will be that my fans, my friends and I all have a good time and can enjoy a fantastic concert."
Last's career spans back to the 1960s and his work has been performed by music greats including Elvis Presley, Andy Williams and Eddie Fisher.
After falling ill, Last said, "A man full of plans, needs to not just slow down but give up his life on tour altogether."
The nature of his illness has not been made public.

The Who rocker Roger Daltrey has reunited the original stars of his first ever Teenage Cancer Trust show to perform again for the 15th anniversary of the fundraising concert series. Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller and Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones joined Daltrey's band onstage for The Who and Friends gig in the British capital in 2000.
The original concept eventually became an annual concert series raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust, and Daltrey has now brought back Gallagher, Weller and Jones to mark 15 years since the first gig.
Jones will kick off the shows with his band Stereophonics on 23 March (15), Weller will take to the stage with Johnny Marr on 27 March (15), and Gallagher will close out the series on 28 March (15), while other shows will be headlined by Van Morrison and The Who.
Daltrey says, "To be back for our 15th year at the Royal Albert Hall for Teenage Cancer Trust is an incredible achievement. This is all made possible by the loyalty of the music and comedy business. Paul, Noel and Kelly (from Stereophonics) were there for the first event, and many thereafter. I can't thank them enough for being back with us this year."
Jones has also expressed his delight to be back at the event 15 years after it all started.
He tells British radio station Absolute Radio's Breakfast Show host Christian O'Connell, "I played the first TCT gig 15 years ago. We all played together that night so this one is going to be the anniversary of the first one. We travelled in with Noel (Gallagher) and imagine we'll do the same again. It was a special night with some incredible memories."
Absolute Radio is the official radio partner for Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall and will be broadcasting highlights from the 15th Anniversary shows.

Jazz and soul star Gregory Porter credits a "negative experience" with his now-father-in-law with inspiring his popular romantic ballad Real Good Hands. The Grammy Award-winning singer reveals he had a difficult conversation with his then-girlfriend's dad, after he was left tongue-tied as he struggled to put his feelings for her into words, so he decided to pick up a pen to describe the depth of his love on paper - and then put his words to music.
The song has since become a fan favourite, with many newlyweds choosing to dance to the tune at their weddings - and Porter is flattered that what came out of a bad experience for him has since brought so much joy to so many others.
He tells WENN, "It started off as a negative experience, because my wife now, we were together and her father, we were on the phone, and he was like, 'What are your intentions with my child?' And he just kept coming at me and I couldn't respond.
"I mean, I had a response but something in me (froze) and I just couldn't respond, so three days later, I was thinking about it and... the lyrics (popped into my head), 'Papa don't you fret and don't forget that one day you was in my shoes/Somehow you paid your dues/Now you're the picture of the man that I someday wanna be.'
"Now, that's something I just wanted to say to him. The song started with the second verse for me, by letting him know, 'It's cool, I understand you have feelings', that's the way I probably want to be when my daughter or my son (reaches that age)...
"But, that was a snippet of my personal experience, written as a response to him, saying everything is gonna be cool, and it turned into an appropriate wedding song for many people and that's really cool. I get messages and people want to have me sing that song in a concert, while they're proposing, and I did it at the Royal Albert Hall (in London) last year... Crazy."

British singer Jamie Cullum has donated his grand piano to a school in Swindon, England. The musician gave away the instrument as part of a competition in which he invited fans to submit videos of themselves singing, and students from The Commonweal School in Swindon were picked to receive the instrument.
Cullum tells the BBC, "I have written songs on it. I have recorded albums with it. I have toured the world with it. It may have fallen in the mud at Glastonbury, it may have been used as a drinks table on numerous occasions, but it has also been on stage at the Royal Albert Hall and was the piano I wrote Gran Torino on. I am thrilled to be able to give it to a worthy home.
"I watched (the school's video) and I was singing the song straight after. It was so much fun to watch and listen to. It's going to a good home that will benefit the community. It will really inspire more people to play."

Rockers The Who will celebrate their 50th anniversary next year (15) by releasing a classical version of their Quadrophenia concept album. Guitarist Pete Townshend's partner Rachel Fuller orchestrated the groundbreaking 1973 album, which was re-recorded at London’s Air Studios last month (Oct14), featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Oriana Choir and tenor Alfie Boe.
Quadrophenia Classic will receive its debut at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 5 July (15).
Townshend, who plays guitar on the record, admits he's thrilled with the new recordings, stating, "A lot of major symphony orchestras are in trouble because their audience is getting old and the younger audiences prefer softer stuff, such as film soundtrack music.
"I think that Quadrophenia would reinvigorate their audiences and bring in people who might not otherwise go to see a symphony orchestra perform without lights and fireworks and a movie screen."

Lebanese singer/actress Sabah has died, aged 87. Sabah, real name Jeanette Feghali, passed away on Wednesday (26Nov14) in Beirut, Lebanon. No more details were available as WENN went to press.
She was considered an icon in the Arab entertainment industry after spending more than six decades in the spotlight and was known to her fans as the 'singing bird' or 'Sabouha'.
Sabah recorded more than 50 albums over the course of her career and appeared in numerous films and plays.
She also performed at famous venues including London's Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall in New York City and at the Sydney Opera House in Australia.

Rocker Damon Albarn surprised fans at a gig in London on Saturday (15Nov14) by bringing musical guests, including veteran producer Brian Eno, onstage. The former Blur frontman performed at the Royal Albert Hall and brought out Eno for the final track of his set, telling the audience, “The next person has been a huge influence for me... And he’s not usually seen in public places like this.”
They concluded the show with a performance of their collaboration Heavy Seas of Love.
Eno was not the only surprise addition to Albarn's set - his former Blur bandmate Graham Coxon appeared onstage as Albarn returned for the encore, and during a second encore, hip-hop trio De La Soul performed the Gorillaz track Feel Good Inc. with the singer before London rapper Kano appeared for another Gorillaz song, Clint Eastwood.
Both De La Soul and Kano remained onstage during Eno's performance.
Albarn is scheduled to return to the venue again on Sunday (16Nov14) night.

British rocker Noel Gallagher has ridiculed comedian Russell Brand's call for a revolution in U.K. politics. The Forgetting Sarah Marshall funnyman has been campaigning for a change to the way Britain is run and penned a new book titled Revolution about his social and political ideas.
However, the former Oasis rocker laughed off his friend's efforts to overthrow the government during an interview with Noisey, revealing Brand has failed to convince him to back the revolution campaign.
Gallagher says, "I love Russell but he doesn't half talk out his a**e sometimes. His fine, muscular, pert a**e. He does talk a lot of s**t... I couldn't see him overthrowing a table full of drinks (let alone the government). Do you think he's going to put himself in charge? Hmm I wonder...
"I was out with him the other night and he said it with a straight face: 'There is going to be a revolution'... I'm like, 'f**king hell, give us a shout mate when you're going down the Mall (in London) with your pitchforks and that, I'll come and serenade you in on my lute before we go and eat the Queen'. He said, 'Come on man, back us'. I said, 'Tell you what I'll do, you f**king make me the Duke of Manchester, I'm in'. I'll go on rallies with him. But scarily enough he does mean it, that's the funny thing."
In a separate interview with Britain's Magic FM, Brand has revealed he has not invited Gallagher to an upcoming stand-up show at the Royal Albert Hall in London, admitting, "I've not invited him, because he's not been supportive enough lately."

Four men have been arrested for allegedly plotting to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II at an event in London on Friday (07Nov14). The unnamed suspects, aged between 19 and 27, were detained in raids on Thursday (06Nov14) in west London and Buckinghamshire, England ahead of the British monarch's appearance at the Royal Albert Hall in the U.K. capital.
British newspaper The Sun reports the men plotted to stab the 88 year old at the military remembrance event. They remain in police custody on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police says, "They have all been taken to police stations in central London and remain in custody. Two of the entries to premises (which were raided) were assisted by firearms officers. No shots were fired."
The Queen and British Prime Minister David Cameron have both reportedly been informed of the alleged plot, and the monarch will continue with plans to attend an annual Remembrance Sunday (09Nov14) event in central London during which she will lay a poppy wreath to commemorate troops lost in battle. Security for the event has been stepped up in response to the alleged terror plot.

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett have announced more live shows for next year (15). The pair, which collaborated on jazz album Cheek to Cheek, will perform together at planned shows in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and they have now confirmed three more performances - at the Hollywood Bowl in California on 30 May (15), the Royal Albert Hall in London on 8 June (15), and Radio City Music Hall in New York City on 19 June (15).

Summary

A pliable, somewhat paunchy character player of TV and films whose parts increased in size with the advent of middle age, Albert Hall made a strong impression as Baines, the brother who introduces Malcolm Little to Islam, in Spike Lee's biopic "Malcolm X" (1992) and as the nervous but firm Sal Martinella, manager of "Rookie of the Year" (1993). Like many actors who seem to have to age into their careers, Hall often played minor or unrewarding parts early in his career. His feature film work began with a comic role in "Leadbelly" (1976) and the actor had a small role as a co-pilot of an aircraft going over "The Bermuda Triangle" (1978). The next year, he could be seen as Chief Phillips, who brings Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) upriver in Francis Ford Coppola's epic "Apocalypse Now". In the 90s, the parts grew in importance, thanks in large measure to "Malcolm X" and the comedy hit "Rookie of the Year". Hall was the imperious General Decker in "Major Payne" and the slow-witted Odell in "Devil in a Blue Dress" (both 1995) and had supporting roles in "Courage Under Fire" and Spike Lee's "Get on the Bus" (both 1996).